As a quartet of first team forwards were laid low by illness, Mark Chapman, Adam Roberts and Scott Pearson joined Brent Shore to form an Ashton pack that was more reminiscent of the mid-1990s than the 21st century.

With the advantage of a blustery wind, every member of the Ashton side looked totally committed, and on 10 minutes, centre Mark Powell skipped in for a try which Jon Farrell converted.

Five minutes later excellent play from the pack saw them take play into their opponents' 22.

When the ball was released to Farrell, his neat little grubber kick was kicked on by Powell for Lee Causer to touch down in the corner.

Ashton went further ahead through Farrell's penalty after Burnage did not retreat fast enough at an initial penalty before Burnage notched their first points through a penalty awarded for offside.

The home side seemed to lose their momentum after this, and on the half hour, some scrappy play at the back presented the visitors with a try.

Ashton responded by taking play back into the Burnage 22, and after the referee had played an advantage, Farrell chanced his luck with an attempt at a drop goal.

It went wide, but the referee awarded the original penalty and Farrell made no mistake, adding a second just before half-time following a late tackle on Causer.

Playing into the wind after the interval, Ashton were forced to keep ball in hand.

On the other hand, whenever Ashton gave up possession, their opponents were able to use the wind to launch long balls deep into home territory.

This, plus an inability at times to win their own scrum ball, kept the Gambrel Bank outfit on the back foot for much of the second half, and a blind side break from the Burnage scrum-half put their full-back in for a try.

With darkness gathering, Ashton were penalised for holding on, and a successful Burnage kick was followed by another penalty for encroaching which brought the equalising three points and a share of the spoils.